Grizzlies clinch top spot with sweep

EAGLE POINT — Ashland swept the season series with Eagle Point in girls soccer and earned the Class 5A Southern Oregon Hybrid's top seed with a 3-1 win Tuesday.

EAGLE POINT — Ashland swept the season series with Eagle Point in girls soccer and earned the Class 5A Southern Oregon Hybrid's top seed with a 3-1 win Tuesday.

Riley Smith scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Grizzlies (5-8) to their second win over the Eagles (1-12). Ashland won the first meeting 7-2 on Sept.14 and will have a bye in the first round of play-in games. Eagle Point will play at the No. 7 seed from the Mid-Willamette Conference in play-in action next Tuesday.

Ellen Radcliffe gave the Eagles the lead in the 27th minute on a booming 35-yard free kick that slipped just under the crossbar.

Montana Pindell answered for the Grizzlies four minutes later on a breakaway to even the score at halftime.

Smith broke through for Ashland in the 42nd minute, dribbling through the defense and shooting past EP goalkeeper Ali Nesberg. Midway through the second half, Smith repeated the effort to seal the victory.

Nesberg managed eight saves for the Eagles and endured considerable pressure by the Grizzlies.

"She was a brick back there for us and stepped up and won a lot of balls that put us out of pressure," said EP head coach Evan Pogue. "But when they're putting pressure on you so many times, you can only stop so many. Riley's a good player and she did well with the ball (on her goals)."

Pogue also had praise for sophomore midfielder Madi Nahss, who helped create opportunities at center midfield.

GRANTS PASS 1, SOUTH MEDFORD 0 — At Grants Pass, Grants Pass scored an early goal at Mel Ingram Field to secure the Southern Oregon Hybrid's second seed.

In the third minute, Keeli Morse took a crossing pass from Danielle Ball and hit a shot from about 15 yards that just got by diving South Medford goalkeeper Alisha Gaffney, who was moved up from the JV team for this game. Gaffney, a sophomore, kept the game close with some impressive saves.

The Panthers (3-11, 1-7 SOH) couldn't capitalize on on a number of scoring chances in the back-and-forth match.

South Medford, the No. 5 seed from the SOH, will travel to the Central Valley League's No. 4 team in a play-in match next. Grants Pass (9-4, 5-3 SOH) secured a spot in the 32-team state playoff bracket.